Thinking about it, Doyle was one who never really fulfilled his potential, he was on the fringes for ages after we bought him from Derby, but he never seemed to take hold of the opportunity he got. When he scored in the play offs I thought thatd be it, but he just never seemed to kick on, especially once Mendy arrived.
Bruce jnr is a limited player I agree but when called upon both last season and the season before he did the job expected of him admirably and on two occasions as has been pointed out did brilliantly against teams ( and Suarez in particular ) way above anything Cooper is likely to face in the near future. So to suggest he only gets into city's squad because of his dad is an insult to both him and SB. Will he stay I doubt it, his dad who you effectively accuse of nepotism was prepared to off load him in a attempt to get Rhodes so I suspect he'll be loaned out. Will Cooper develop into a premier league player ? Maybe maybe not , he'll get plenty of practice at Leeds but that's beside the point. I stand by what I said that to claim that Cairney and Cooper would not look out of place in our present team is ludicrous
The better our squad gets, the more out of depth junior looks, so I agree that he won't be with us much longer. I don't think it's an insult to suggest that he's a Premier League player because his dad is our manager, I think it's a stonewall fact and I'm not that bothered, if it keeps senior happy, then it's a price worth paying(the Allam's thought the same, they absolutely didn't want him signed but accepted it to keep Bruce happy). We all have opinions and that's all they are, just because your opinion is wrong I wouldn't call it ludicrous.
That's interesting because I've never heard that. I take it it was because of nepotism not because of his abilities as a football? As Allams have always stated they don't understand football.
Ok perhaps ludicrous was a little unjust, bit concerned though that you suggest not only is Bruce jnr kept on the pay roll soley because of his dad , therefore by definition questioning SB s professionalism but also because AA thought it a judicious means of appeasing SB. I cannot accept that, I can imagine it's pretty tough for Bruce jnr having to put up with all the nepotism accusations ( partly because he's not as good as his dad!) but also for SB as well. Anyway I think we can all agree I hope that Bruce jnr has exceeded all our expectations since he arrived as a reject from Leeds and if and when he goes he goes having done a great job for us.
I suspect it was more about the principal than about his ability, though I have no idea really. Bruce would be an asset to any Championship team, he ought to get back there as soon as possible, he's not going to get a look in with us now(which is almost certainly why he was offered to Blackburn).
I can't help feeling that the opinion that Bruce Jnr was brilliant against Liverpool & brilliant against Arsenal in the cup final is at odds with the statement that he isn't a Premiership player. He showed his ability against two of the top teams around and especially against the leagues best striker at the time. Seems strange thinking.
He is a lucky lad then just to have had two great games against two of the best teams around. Yeah, must just be luck!!
He's brave and if you need a last ditch tackle or a strong header, then he's your man. If you need someone who can actually play football and is competent with the ball at his feet, then he definitely isn't.
Every team is a mix of players, they all need a Bruce as shown in the aforementioned games. Others do the clever bits.
Perhaps I was being too kind to you , Bruce jnr whatever his limitations has always plied his trade in at least the championship, now I accept there are plenty of cloggers and journey men in the championship but to say he cannot 'play football' or is not 'competent with the ball at his feet' is ****ing ludicrous. Maybe the Holland team of the 70s played total football where every player could play in any position but short of that most team have horses for courses. If you think someone who cannot 'actually play football' can mark the best striker in the world out of a game then you know jack **** about football. Bruce snr had the same rubbish thrown at him throughout his career , he didn't seem to do too bad did he.
There is definitely worse players then Alex Bruce who have made a bloody good living from playing Premier League football for a good number of years.
Bruce's only problem is he can't actually make a pass to the others so they can do the clever bits. Besides thats he ain't too bad.
Liam Cooper needed game time and Jack Hobbs was not going to be happy just been a squad player, Alex Bruce has done a job when called on, and seems happy to be a squad member
No Premier League team needs a Bruce, he'll be in the Championship shortly and there's no shame in that, he'll do a good job at that level.
I obviously didn't mean he literally can't pay football, I meant he wasn't up to doing so at Premier League level, I've already said he's a perfectly capable Championship player.
